The present status of the ITER project is summarised in terms of progress m
ade on its scientific, engineering and safety/environmental characteristics
and of its position in world-wide fusion development. The selection of mat
erials and joining technologies for ITER is discussed, with emphasis on mat
erials choices and test results for in-vessel components. Progress of major
R&D projects to validate the technologies is presented. The future prospec
ts for ITER are considered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser
ved.